Olympus E-5 vs. Olympus PEN E-PL5: A Thorough Real-World Camera Comparison for Enthusiasts and Professionals

When I sat down to compare the Olympus E-5 DSLR and the Olympus PEN E-PL5 mirrorless camera, I knew this would be more than just a specs dance. These two share the same Micro Four Thirds sensor size yet come from vastly different generations and design philosophies. The E-5, released in early 2011, is a robust DSLR geared toward advanced users who crave an optical viewfinder and rugged build. Contrast that with the E-PL5 from late 2012, a compact, entry-level mirrorless camera with a sleek design, touchscreen, and modern features packed into a small body.

Over years of field testing, I’ve found that comparing cameras like these - bridging DSLR and mirrorless worlds - can offer valuable insight. This article dives deep, not only into the specs but how those numbers translate in portraits, landscapes, sports, wildlife, video, and travel. I’ll share technical analysis from sensor performance to autofocus responsiveness and real-world ergonomics. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of which Olympus model fits your photography style and budget best.

So grab a cup of coffee, and let’s explore these siblings from Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds lineup.

Handling and Ergonomics: DSLR Muscle vs. Mirrorless Sleekness

Physically, the E-5 and E-PL5 reveal their personalities immediately. The E-5 sports a traditional mid-size DSLR body with a pentaprism optical viewfinder, all-weather sealing, and beefy dimensions. Meanwhile, the E-PL5 is a sleek, rangefinder-style mirrorless with a distinctly smaller footprint.

Take a look:

The E-5 measures 143 x 117 x 75 mm and weighs a substantial 800 grams with battery, a sturdy presence that fits naturally in hand and balances well with longer telephoto lenses. Rugged, weather-sealed magnesium alloy construction means you can confidently venture into harsher conditions without worry.

On the flip side, the E-PL5 is just 111 x 64 x 38 mm, tipping the scales at a mere 325 grams - less than half the weight of the E-5. This compact size lends itself to street shooting and travel, though it does sacrifice the solid heft and some direct physical controls I prefer on the DSLR.

Moving to controls, the top plates show another story:

The E-5's dedicated buttons for ISO, white balance, drive mode, and AF mode allow fast, intuitive dialing without diving into menus. There’s also a top LCD display, which I still find invaluable for quick settings checks, especially outdoors in bright light.

The E-PL5 embraces minimalism - most settings are accessed through its touchscreen or menus. Although the tilting screen is handy, especially for low or high-angle shots, the lack of physical dials slows operation down in some situations requiring quick manual overrides.

Speaking of screens:

The E-5 features a bright, fully articulated 3-inch screen with 920k-dot resolution and HyperCrystal technology, great for composing unfamiliar angles and reviewing shots in the field.

The E-PL5’s 3-inch touchscreen has a more modest 460k-dot resolution but supports intuitive touch controls - focus point selection, shutter release, and menu navigation feels fluid once you get used to it.

In sum, the E-5’s ergonomics favor advanced users working actively in challenging settings, while the E-PL5’s lightweight design and touchscreen appeal to casual shooters and vloggers who value portability and simplicity.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Same Size, Different Generations

Both cameras utilize a Four Thirds size CMOS sensor (17.3 x 13 mm) with a 2.0x crop factor relative to full-frame. But don’t mistake that similarity for identical image quality.

The E-5’s 12-megapixel sensor was competitive at launch, offering solid image output with excellent color depth (21.6 bits per DxO Mark) and decent dynamic range (10.5 EV stops). However, the sensor and image processor (TruePic V+) show their age today.

In contrast, the E-PL5 offers 16 megapixels, a moderate bump in resolution, with a more modern CMOS sensor tuned for higher sensitivity and broader ISO range - from native 200 up to an impressive 25600. DxO Mark rates it with a higher color depth (22.8 bits) and dynamic range (12.3 EV), showing clear technological progress.

What does that mean practically? The E-PL5 delivers cleaner images at higher ISOs, a wider tonal range in shadows and highlights, and sharper details thanks to the greater pixel count - even with an optical low-pass filter in place.

Both cameras support RAW capture - crucial if you want the utmost control in post. The E-PL5’s files have more latitude, especially if you often shoot tricky lighting or prefer to push shadows with confidence.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Speed and Precision in the Field

Now, autofocus is where these cameras diverge significantly in capability.

The E-5 features an 11-point phase-detection AF system with all cross-type points - quite advanced for its time. It also supports face detection and contrast-detection AF in live view, but tracking autofocus is limited, and continuous autofocus performance isn’t as refined by today’s standards.

The E-PL5 relies solely on contrast-detection AF with 35 selectable points and incorporates modern face/eye detection - all on the main sensor because mirrorless cameras focus off-sensor. It lacks phase detection but compensates with a faster, more responsive system ideal for still subjects and casual action photography.

Continuous shooting rates differ notably: the E-5 manages 5 frames per second, sufficient for many sports and wildlife, but the E-PL5 can shoot bursts at up to 8 fps, giving it an edge for fast-paced sequences - though with a smaller buffer.

One frustration I’ve found with the E-5's AF is that without advanced tracking, following erratic wildlife or sports subjects can require pre-focusing and careful timing. The E-PL5 offers better autofocus flexibility for everyday use but struggles in low light or with moving fast subjects, familiar limitations for contrast AF. Eye detection helps for portraits, but lacks animal eye recognition.

If autofocus speed and accuracy are mission-critical - for wildlife and professional sports - neither camera ranks with modern top-tier bodies, but the E-5’s phase-detect system generally edges out thanks to dedicated AF sensors.

The Photographer's Palette: Portraits, Landscapes, and Macro

Portrait Photography

Portrait shooters appreciate fine skin tones, smooth bokeh, and reliable eye detection for tack-sharp eyes.

The E-PL5’s newer sensor and advanced live view AF with eye detection make it a strong contender for casual portraits. Its maximum ISO 25600 (albeit noisy at higher values) allows filling shadows without hard light in darker rooms.

The E-5 does well with color rendition but, at 12 MP and older AF tech, it can produce softer results wide-open compared to modern mirrorless peers. However, the DSLR’s optical viewfinder and weather-sealed body let you work confidently outdoors.

Bokeh quality is greatly affected by lens choice. Both cameras use Micro Four Thirds lenses with a 2.0x crop factor, so a 25mm f/1.8 behaves like a 50mm f/1.8 on full-frame - plenty for portraits with creamy background blur.

Landscape Photography

Landscape photography thrives on high resolution and dynamic range.

Although the E-PL5 wins on resolution (16 MP vs. 12 MP), the E-5’s rugged weather sealing and solid magnesium chassis give it an advantage for demanding outdoor shoots where rain or dust could threaten equipment.

Dynamic range tests reveal the E-PL5 pulls more detail from shadows without introducing excessive noise. That said, both cameras benefit from careful exposure bracketing to conquer the extremes of sunrise or sunset scenes.

Regarding lens ecosystems, the E-PL5 has access to a much broader and newer range (107 lenses) compared to the E-5 (45 lenses), including compact primes ideal for landscape. Both support excellent optics from Olympus and Panasonic.

Macro shooters may find both adequate, but the E-PL5’s touch AF and sensor-based stabilization greatly help with focusing accuracy at close distances.

Action Photography: Wildlife and Sports

Speed and accuracy matter here.

The E-5’s phase-detection AF gives it an edge in tracking fast wildlife or sports action, despite a lower 5 fps burst speed. The optical viewfinder provides near-zero lag - crucial for timing shots.

The E-PL5 offers faster 8 fps bursts but only contrast-detection AF. This works well for moderately paced subjects but tends to hunt in dense foliage or when light levels drop. The lack of an onboard flash and smaller buffer also limit burst lengths.

For serious wildlife shooters, I prefer the E-5’s proven phase-detection system and rugged build to handle rough terrain.

On the sports front, neither camera rivals modern APS-C or full-frame sports shooters, but for casual team matches or street-run-and-gun action, the E-PL5’s responsive UI and silent shutter are beneficial.

Street and Travel Photography: Discretion and Versatility

Here the E-PL5’s compactness truly shines.

Its tiny heft, tilting touchscreen, and silent operation let you remain inconspicuous in street scenes or crowded travel destinations. You’ll miss the optical viewfinder and tactile controls of the E-5, but that’s the tradeoff.

Battery life is another factor for travel. The E-5 boasts 870 shots per charge versus 360 for the E-PL5 - a big difference especially if you shoot in remote areas.

Storage-wise, the E-5 accommodates dual slots (CompactFlash and SD), excellent for professional workflow and redundancy. The E-PL5 has one SD slot, sufficient but less flexible.

Connectivity is rather barebones on both, though the E-PL5 supports limited Eye-Fi wireless card connectivity for photo transfer, a tiny nod to modern conveniences.

Night and Astro Photography Potential

Long exposures and high ISO performance test a camera’s sensor and noise reduction.

The E-PL5’s higher maximum ISO and cleaner files at 1600-3200 make it preferable for night scenes and Milky Way shots. The in-body sensor stabilization also aids handheld low-light shooting.

The E-5’s weather sealing and stronger build allow long tripod sessions outdoors in tougher conditions, but higher noise at similar ISO settings limits its usefulness beyond ISO 800-1600.

Neither camera has dedicated astro exposure modes, but both support manual bulb long exposures.

Video Capabilities: Getting the Most from Moving Pictures

Both cameras are modest videographers.

The E-PL5 supports 1080p Full HD at 30fps in H.264 and MPEG-4, with good image stabilization for smooth handheld shots. The touchscreen enhances focusing control for video.

The E-5 records at 720p max in Motion JPEG format. That was standard in 2011 but is largely obsolete now, with large file sizes and less efficient compression.

Neither has microphone or headphone jacks - one downside if you want better audio control. The E-5 does have an external mic input, however, giving it a slight edge in sound recording.

Video enthusiasts will gravitate toward the E-PL5 overall simply due to sharper images, better codecs, and touchscreen convenience.

Reliability and Workflow for Professional Users

If you’re shooting professional assignments, file handling, build quality, and reliability are paramount.

The E-5’s durable, weather-sealed body, plus dual card slots (including quicker CompactFlash) provide peace of mind for critical shoots. Its optical viewfinder offers zero-latency framing, excellent in fast-changing scenarios.

The E-PL5 can't match this ruggedness or dual-slot advantage but supports fairly efficient JPEG and RAW workflows. Its USB 2.0 and HDMI ports enable tethering and external display, albeit without 4K video or modern wireless file transfers.

Professionals with emphasis on durability and dependable AF performance may still prefer the E-5, whereas enthusiasts and casual pros wanting compactness and solid image quality will find the E-PL5 compelling.

Putting It All Together: Performance Scores and Recommendations

Before I wrap up, here are some data-driven performance insights and genre suitability scores drawn from real user tests and DxOMark reports:

The numbers confirm much of what we’ve discussed: the E-PL5 excels in image quality and compactness, with higher burst speeds and dynamic range; the E-5 wins in build quality, durability, and traditional DSLR handling.

Final Thoughts: Which Olympus Suits You?

If you want my personal take:

• Choose the Olympus E-5 if:

  • You prioritize rugged build and weather sealing for outdoor or professional use.
  • Optical viewfinder and classic DSLR handling matter.
  • You shoot sports or wildlife where phase-detection AF and dual card slots improve reliability.
  • Battery life is key for long shoots.

• Choose the Olympus PEN E-PL5 if:

  • Portability and light weight are must-haves for street, travel, or casual shooting.
  • You want modern features like touchscreen AF, better sensor with higher resolution and ISO.
  • Video recording at 1080p is important.
  • Budget is a concern - at roughly $400 (vs. $1700 at launch for the E-5), it offers remarkable value.

Both cameras represent distinct stages in Micro Four Thirds evolution. The E-5 remains a strong DSLR choice in a digital mirrorless era, good for photographers who appreciate a solid grip and an optical path. The E-PL5, meanwhile, signals the mirrorless future with compact convenience and solid image quality upgrades.

Sample Images: Seeing is Believing

Finally, a visual comparison helps clarify real-world output differences:

Olympus E 5 front Olympus E 5 screen back Olympus E PL5 front Olympus E PL5 screen back

Look closely at color rendition, noise in shadows, dynamic range, and sharpness. You’ll see the higher resolution and cleaner shadows of the E-PL5. However, the E-5 holds its own in color accuracy and tonal gradation, especially with good glass.

Closing Note on Lens Compatibility

Both cameras use the Micro Four Thirds mount, facilitating broad access to Olympus and Panasonic's extensive lens libraries. The newer E-PL5 benefits from wider compatibility with many compact, modern lenses, whereas the E-5, launched as a DSLR migrating to mirrorless standards, aligns well with legacy Four Thirds lenses but gains less from current newer optics.

My testing confirms both cameras work superbly with fast primes, zooms, and even older adapted lenses, but if lens versatility matters to you, the E-PL5 edges out.

Hope this extensive dive helps you choose wisely. Feel free to ask any follow-up questions or share your own experience with Olympus gear! After all, selecting a camera is deeply personal - what’s paramount is that it inspires you to create.

Happy shooting!